In one of the more surreal moments of the MLB season, relief pitcher Génesis Cabrera was traded during a doubleheader between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles — and didn’t even need a plane ticket to join his new team.
Cabrera, who was part of the Blue Jays’ roster earlier in the day, was sent to the Orioles between games of Saturday’s doubleheader. In a rare twist of baseball fate, Cabrera simply walked across the stadium at Camden Yards to switch dugouts, joining the very team he had just been competing against.
The moment was caught on video, showing Cabrera making the short trip from the Blue Jays’ clubhouse to the Orioles’ side with his belongings in hand. The transition felt more like a mid-inning pitching change than a midseason trade.
Baltimore acquired Cabrera to bolster its bullpen as the team continues its push for the postseason. Known for his high-velocity fastball and occasional command issues, Cabrera adds depth to an already-strong relief corps. The Blue Jays, in turn, received minor league pitcher Luis De León as part of the deal.
It’s not often fans see a player suit up for two different teams in one day — especially against the same opponent — but baseball always finds a way to surprise. Cabrera is expected to be available out of the Orioles bullpen immediately, assuming the paperwork clears in time.
For now, he’ll be remembered as the pitcher who changed teams and clubhouses — all without leaving the ballpark.
